Teams - EU
Disasters and outbreaks regularly have devastating effects on societies and populations.
To assist the affected countries an increasing number of international emergency medical teams has been deployed.
The 'Emergency Medical Teams' (EMTs) initiative evolved in 2010 under the umbrella of the World Health Organisation (WHO) with the aim to improve the quality, accountability and co-ordination of emergency medical teams responding to disasters defining capacities, services and minimum deployment standards.
A global registry of quality assured and classified organisations that may deploy EMTs was launched by WHO in July 2015. In February 2016, the European Union (EU) launched the European Medical Corps (EMCs) to help mobilise medical and public health teams and equipment for emergencies inside and outside the EU.
This initiative is in line with the EMTs roadmap and will create a much faster and more efficient EU response to health crises.